Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-30
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

Especial COr. Oh Tue AleNauuElA dAEkTTE.J
RICHMOND, Va, March %. Norfolk coun-
ty claims the distinction OF sending to the
General Assembly the first batch of names
asking that the local option law be not re-
pealed. Q.her counties, have followed suit
and the temperance people are busy in diff
ferent portions of the State getting up petit
tions like that which was sent from Norfolk
county. There is no organized movement
to repeal the law and from present indica
tions no effort Of any consequence will be
notable fact in connection with this matter
is that some of the most ardent supporters
of the local option law in the General AS
sembly do not in the least object to indulg-
ing "a bitn in mountain dew" or some
other equally as palatable Ingredient. Mr.
Abram Fulkerson's bill to repeal local op.
ton is slumbering in the committee to
which it was sent early in the session.
The Committee on Retrenchment and Re-
form held q meeting this afternoon. They
are looking about to see if they can in some
way reduce the expenses of the State few
hundred dollars year. At the meeting
this afternoon there was some talk of re.
commencing the abolshment Of the Office of
Register of Lands and place the
duties of that Office upon the Sec
ond Auditor, also of abolishing the office
of Adjutant General, a position now
most efficiently filled by Gen. James Me.
Donald. There is disposition on the part
of some to make the Secretary of the Com
monwealth perform the duties that are now
performed By the Adjutant General. An
other thing discussed was the feasibility of
reducing the number of boards at the Capt.
tol. Some members Of the committee, it is
said, are in favor of doing away with some
CT the expenses incurred by the Indemnity
Board and the Board of Sinking Fund Com
missioners. This, however, will amount to
nothing but talk, as the duties that these
boards are called upon to perform must OF
necessity be DONE The average legislator
does not look into these matters at the fret
glance with any depth. The meeting this
afternoon was the first this committee has
held in four years. The chairman is Mr..
Porter, OF Portsmouth, who will not submit
any foolish report.
In the House to day the Charleston,
Cincinnati and Chicago railroad bill
was reported from the Committee on
Roads. of which DR.. Stribling, Of Eau
uuier, is chairman. The friends of this bill
have had serious obstacle in their way in
the shape of the Efforts OF Senator Rhen, of
Washington, to compel the road to run by
Bristol. The investigation now going oil
relative to this matter will be concluded
Friday or Saturday. United States Senator
Butte. did not reach the city in time this
morning to be at the meeting of the investi-
eating committee which took place thia
morning, but he will be on hand Tomorrow
morning Major K. F. Walker and General
]. D. Imboden were examined today. The
former positively denied that he had used
any improper means to secure the votes OF
members of the Legislature, and the latter
testified at length as to the topography of
the country through which the road pro.
poses to run. Senator Lovenstein, of Rich
mond is the patron of the bill, and it will
likely pasa in accordance with the wishes
OF the company. b. +. y.